(WACO) – The Precision Machining Technology program at Texas State Technical College in Waco recently received its first program accreditation from the National Institute for Metalworking Skills Inc.
The nationally recognized certification means the technical program meets NIMS’s standards for training future industry workers for a global workforce. The accreditation lasts five years, after which the time the program can reapply.
“For some time, I had been looking for an opportunity to provide a higher level of training for our students,” said Jose Rodriguez, chair of the Precision Machining Technology program. “We needed to meet high standards. The standards needed to be credible and acceptable nationally.”
Rodriguez said he wanted the accreditation not only for current students, but also for veterans and those already working in machining and manufacturing who do not have a formal academic background. The students will now be able to earn NIMS national skills credentials.
Caleb Crawford, 20, of Waxahachie looks forward to working on skills credentials. He said employers should sense his confidence and how to do processes because of the extra work he will put in.
“It’s hard to get in somewhere if you don’t have experience,” Crawford said.
Colt Gibson, 20, a Precision Machining Technology major from Mason, said getting credentials could help him bring knowledge to small machine shops. And, he hopes his efforts can inspire other workers to pursue certifications.
Program faculty used NIMS standards to realign the curriculum. The work has been detailed encompassing records keeping, safety enhancements and the development of a machine maintenance program, training work procedures and materials inventory.
“The standards are rigorous and have helped our department re,focus and better understand our physical environment and the effect on student learning,” Rodriguez said.
The program has about 130 students and offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Precision Machining Technology and a Certificate in Machining. Students learn a range of skills like measuring, blueprint reading, design and machine operations.
TSTC joins Amarillo College and South Texas College in McAllen as the only higher education institutions in Texas with the certification.
